China–Russia relations

China and Russia share one of the world's most important foreign relationships. Both nations share interest in energy cooperation, military ties, and geopolitical alignment in challenging the West and the United States.

Relations between China and Russia go back to the 16th century. Though initially allies during the Cold War, China and the Soviet Union were rivals after the Sino-Soviet split in 1961. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, China and Russia established diplomatic relations, with the relationship strengthening significantly afterwards. The two countries share a land border which was demarcated in 1991, and they signed the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation in 2001. Ties grew closer following international sanctions against Russia for its 2014 annexation of Crimea, which led Russia to pursue a pivot to China; in that year, China and Russia signed a 30-year gas deal worth $400 billion. In 2019, the two countries defined their relationship as a "comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era." Ties have continued to deepen since the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war in 2022, with Russia increasingly becoming dependent on China while it is under large-scale international sanctions. China and Russia have significant economic ties, and Russia is an important source of natural energy and oil for China. China is Russia's largest trading partner. The annual trade between China and Russia was US$234 billion as of 2025.

China and Russia have enjoyed close relations militarily, economically, and politically, while supporting each other on various global issues. Commentators have debated whether the bilateral strategic partnership constitutes an alliance. Russia and China officially declared their relations "Not allies, but better than allies". The two countries cooperate through multilateral organizations and project such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, BRICS and the Belt and Road Initiative. Russia recognizes Taiwan as an integral part of China, and supports Chinese unification. Russia also supports China's policies in Hong Kong, Tibet and Xinjiang. In turn, China has called for Russia's security concerns to be accounted for and has opposed the enlargement of NATO.